Understanding Our Call In Light of God’s Glory (part 2)
Isaiah 6:8: “Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’”
Isaiah 6:8 is a precious verse that I have held closely to in the past decade. First I was a teenager praying for God’s will in my life regarding the mission field, then I prayed about willingness in determining my next steps after college, and finally to my husband and I continuing to pray about current ministry and future opportunities on the mission field. Through many different life stages, this verse provided a grounding point to remind me to be willing and ready to be used by God.
Despite the encouragement and conviction found in this verse, I always found the verses that follow a bit of a letdown. In Isaiah 6:9-13, God explained in more detail why Isaiah was to go back to his people, and what his message would be. And it wasn’t positive or encouraging. Isaiah learned that he would be a prophet to his people, but they would not understand. The effects of Isaiah’s message and labor would have no results. The people would harden their hearts.
The entire book of Isaiah is filled with Isaiah’s warnings and prophecies against Judah. A serious judgment would come if the people would not repent. This was a serious and daunting message, and before Isaiah began his ministry, he already knew what the people’s response would be. They wouldn’t let the seriousness of their sin change their hearts or drive them to repentance. Isaiah may have been discouraged or disappointed by this because in verse 11, he asks “how long” he should continue his preaching. The answer is even more discouraging, as the Lord paints a picture of the judgment and desolation to come. He should continue to prophecy to the people until the judgment comes.
Israel would suffer for her disobedience, but God did not leave the country without hope.
Isaiah was commissioned to go to his people with a grim message that would not be received well. But God did not leave Isaiah without hope; in verse 13, he tells Isaiah that a “tenth” of the people would survive. Many commentators think this refers to the captives that Nebuchadnezzar took when he conquered Judah. From that tiny remnant, life would continue to sprout, like a seed in a stump of a fallen tree. If you are familiar with the Old Testament, you know that godly men like Ezra and Nehemiah eventually returned and to reestablish and rebuild Israel. They are the “holy seed”. Israel would suffer for her disobedience, but God did not leave the country without hope. Thousands of years later, the Messiah would come as the ultimate “holy seed”.
Isaiah’s complete abandonment for God and willingness to go where God would send him is inspiring. God’s character, holiness, and deity leaves Isaiah with a repentant heart and willingness to go for God. In your present ministry situation, do you have the same response to God’s character that Isaiah had? Does His Holiness motivate us to serve Him with whatever He calls us to? While this was a special vision for Isaiah, we have the completed Scriptures as a revelation of God’s character. Does knowing who God is leave you humbled, repentant, and willing to serve Him?
Isaiah’s commission wasn’t to go to a positive or encouraging ministry career. Whatever your current ministry looks like, you may feel like you can relate. Ministry success should never be measured by numerical growth, number of salvations or baptisms, or amount of programs started. Ministry success is determined by faithfulness to God’s mission and faithfully proclaiming His Word, despite circumstances.
Does knowing who God is leave you humbled, repentant, and willing to serve Him?
Don’t be discouraged if your current ministry is too small, not modern or flashy, or you haven’t received any recognition for it. Focus on faithfulness. Isaiah’s role in God’s plan was to warn an unrepentant people to repent, and he knew that they would not listen. Yet, Isaiah stayed faithful. The book of Isaiah is sometimes referred to as the most evangelical book in the Old Testament because of how many times Isaiah references the coming Messiah. There was hope!
What about us? Will we be faithful despite lack of “success” and trust God for the big picture while we faithfully serve Him? After all, we answer His call not for our own glory—but for God’s!
The word adorn means “to enhance the appearance of, especially with beautiful objects.” Titus not only teaches that believers can adorn truth, it tells how! Fulfilling your purpose and mission, impacting the world with the gospel—that’s what this study of Titus will help you do.
Truth Adorned: Pursuing Life’s Deeper Purpose by Haley Cleveland
